After snow piled on top of lingering ice from an earlier storm, Susan’s message on a Mooresville community social media page was simple and urgent.
Her long, steep driveway was buried in snow and ice and completely shaded by trees. Ice melt did not work. Susan is a dialysis patient who needs treatment three times a week, starting early in the morning. She shared that walking the icy incline was dangerous, explaining that if you fall, you do not just fall, you slide all the way back down.
Susan said she was on disability and could not afford to stay in a hotel while waiting for the driveway to thaw. After days of trying to find help, she posted again, hoping someone would be willing to take on the job.
That is when James Baral stepped in.
James has lived in the Lake Norman area for nearly 10 years. He and his wife Blythe have been married for seven years and have two daughters, Aubrey, 10, and Gianna, 5. James owns a mobile dustless sandblasting business called PureSurface Blasting.
When the storm ended, James and Blythe began clearing snow right away. With very little sleep and fueled by coffee and energy drinks, they worked through the aftermath of the storm.
James said his motivation comes from personal experience. His grandmother struggled with medical issues for many years and had difficulty getting out of her home in Rosman, North Carolina, for medical appointments. He said that experience made him want to help people who cannot help themselves or do not have the resources.
Because North Carolina does not get much snow, this was James’ first winter in the state doing snow removal. During this storm, he helped a handful of elderly residents and single moms.
Susan was one of them.
James cleared Susan’s long, steep driveway in about 45 minutes, removing both snow and ice. He said helping her safely get to her daily dialysis appointments was the most rewarding part for him.
Susan later shared a public thank you, calling James “a dear man with a kind heart.” She said he completely cleared the snow and ice from her driveway and praised his experience, adding that he knew what he was doing. She shared that being able to safely reach dialysis meant everything to her and offered blessings to James, his wife, and their family.
James said the people he has helped have been grateful and appreciative, and that their kind words mean a lot to him.
For James, giving back is simple.
He shared that it costs nothing to be kinder to others and that the world would be a better place if everyone did something to give back.
James also credited his wife Blythe for supporting him in every aspect, from helping with projects to taking care of their home and children.
Most people reached out to James through Facebook and word of mouth.
He hopes the community remembers to check on seniors and neighbors during weather like this, saying there will always be people in need and that a simple check-in could be a lifesaving resource. He added that not everyone has a village or support and that helping others always comes back in a positive way.
James also shared a message for Mooresville:
“It’s free to be kind. Be like Biff,” referring to Greg Biffle. “Share resources when you can.”
For Susan, James’ help meant being able to safely reach life-saving treatment. For James, it was another reminder that showing up for others can make a meaningful difference.
